With less than 1200 miles or about three days of racing left to the Les Sables d’Olonne finish line of his first Vendée Globe, British skipper Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE) had his best chances of finishing in fourth place ripped from his grasp in a few seconds when his IMOCA made a pair of involuntary gybes on a wave which ripped his mainsail from front to back at the level of the third reef.
It was at just before midday (UTC) this morning, this January day known as Blue Monday, that the incident happened, some 120 miles SE of the Azores. The 35 year Goodchild reported after that he had just been through the worst of the winds in a big low pressure system when his autopilot let go. He immediately dropped the mainsail and as quickly and set up his J3 and J4 in doubleheaded goosewing or scissor formation and this afternoon is making a more easterly course than his rivals.
It is a bitter blow for Goodchild who has sailed an immaculately managed race. He had been engaged in an incredibly close duel with French rival Jérémie Beyou for more than a week, scrapping over fourth place. Even yesterday morning they were only one or two miles apart.
Now the five times Vendée Globe racer Beyou should normally have the pressure off and be able to deliver on his own strategy to deal with Cape Finisterre and his route to the finish where he should finish Wednesday morning.
Goodchild reported, “I was passing the low off the Azores, we were getting through the strongest wind and sea when we suffered a litttle 'woop woop', with a reef with the mainsail well sheeted with pilot giving out down a wave. The mainsail went from one side to the other breaking battens and exploding into two pieces. The tear is quite high. I can't take a 3rd reef, but a repair is possible. At the moment, we've got heavy seas and 30 knots of wind, which isn’t ideal for a repair. I'm going to go as far east as I can and try to get out of the northerly wind, to repair a little later. It does not mean the Vendée Globe is over but it is not going to be the same end I had hoped for. It's damage limitation now. I'm just trying to get my boat back home in one piece. It is pretty disappointing but we knew the risks were there, and unfortunately it bit me this time. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!”
Meilhat, Lunven in wait
At the time of the incident Goodchild had Paul Meilhat (Biotherm) about 100 miles behind in sixth and Nico Lunven (HOLCIM-PRB) seventh at 130 miles behind. His biggest problem is that the further east he goes the more he will likely end up having to sail upwind towards Les Sables d’Olonne which he cannot do efficiently without a mainsail.
In terms of hopes and expectation the race has now changed completely for German skipper Boris Herrmann (Malizia-Seaexplorer) who no longer has a useable port foil. He has now dropped to 13th place.
"For now the aim is to just to keep going and get home, that is fine I have accepted that, I am OK with that for just now but I just hope it is not all upwind. I have had so much upwind, almost all since Cape Horn. This now hinders me on both tacks as the foil is sticking out and touches the water on the windward side. And on the other tack I can only do about 10 or 11 knots. It is a big brake in the water and I worry about it breaking more" – Boris Herrmann. MALIZIA - SEAEXPLORER
l the way through the fleet there are skippers who are now dealing with the harsh reality that their races are behind expectations. Their goals and targets are now much modified. Swiss skipper Alan Roura on his third Vendée Globe is disappointed not to be further up the fleet on his HUBLOT. That said he was the fastest sailor in the fleet today, flying in the SE’ly trade winds and sunshine, a slight recompense for missing out on being home for the first birthday of his one year old son.
"I have been stuck in no wind for quite a long time now and so it is good to be flying again, it is quite a disappointing part of the race now and but the boats up front are caught in the Doldrums and so it should be a good chance to catch up" - Alan Roura, HUBLOT
